Competition: win a Saudade T-shirt

Competition time! You can win one of the rather fine Saudade T-shirts from Steve Cobby. All you have to do is answer a question set by Steve. The question is:

Q: Steve is probably still best known for being half of Fila Brazillia. But he’s also done work solo. Name two pseudonyms he’s recorded under as a solo artist. [hint: the rest of the post might help with one pseudonym]

The T-shirt features the image from his album Saudade. It’s a lovely downtempo album, with a jazzy element.

Opener Passerines has a Latin feel with the tom toms and wind chimes but with enough pitter patter drums to keep the feet moving. Heeds, an unexpectedly squelchy quality in amongst the Moog. Cool space funk with an almost improv jazz quality. Settling Days gives us echoes of his Fila Brazillia past, with it’s languid style. A little gem. Rapelle’s piano chops goes dangerously close to lounge jazz. Melismatic takes a jazz funk bass and then confounds expectations by adding some soft steel drums. But the mood remains funky. Clawfist goes for Rhodes piano but wheezy beats.

For much of the album there’s a solo listening quality. Much of the music is quite reflective, in its late night jazz style. It’s wee small hours spent with a fine malt. Makes me want a smoking jacket. In actuality, for me, it’s early mornings with a fine coffee.